Electric coupling device



July 2? 1926. 1,593,711

c. c. FARMER ELECTRIC COUPLING DEVICE Filed March 1. 1923 INVENTOR CLYDE CFARMER ATTORNEY Patented July 27, 1926.-

"UNITED STATES PA TENT OFFICE.

CLYDE C. FARMER, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE WES'I'RTQ- HOUSE AIR BRAKE COMPANY: OF WILMERDING,

OF PENNSYLVANIA.

PENNSYLVANIA, A conrom'rrox ELECTRIC COUPLING DEVICE,

Application fi led htarch 1, 1923. Serial in. 622,098.

This invention relates to an electric train line coupling of the type adapted to automatically make the electric train line circuits when cars are brought together and break said circuits when the cars are separated.

Particularly in the case of train line cir cuits carrying heavy currents, such as the bus line circuit, when cars are separated with the current on, excessive and damagingarcing is liable to occur.

In Order to overcome the above difliculty, the principal object of my invention is to provide means. for automatically opening the train line circuit in the act of uncoupling before the coupling contacts separate, so that there will be no arcing at the contacts when the contacts separate.

In the accompanying drawing; Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view, partly in section, of electric train line couplings as applied to two cars of a train and embodying my invention, the cars being shown in the fully coupled position; and Fig. 2 a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the couplers after an initial movement in the act of uncoupling the cars.

In the drawing, the letters A and B indicate the adjacent ends of twocars, each end of the car being equipped with an automatic electric train line coupling, which, for the purposes of the present invention may be indicated by a block of insulation 1 having mounted thereon a tact 2, subject to the pressure 0 a coilspring 3. A pair of fixed contacts 4 and'5 are also mounted in the block 1 on opposite sides of the yielding contact 2,,one of which is connected to a ground wire 6 and the other to a wire 7 elcctro-magnet 8. v

An electric switch device is provided; com.- prising a casing 9, having a piston chamber 10 containing a piston 11. Said piston is provided with a stem 12 carrying a contact a wire 16 with the yielding contact ,2 and the contact 14 with a train wire 17 which may ,be thebus line of the system. I}, The magnet 8 controls double beat valves 18 and 19- by which, fluid under pressure smel d-w and mm ielding conleading to one terminal of an he no current flowing in the bus line circuit,

piston 11. The fixed contacts 4 and' 5 in the electric train line coupling are so posi-, tioned, with respect to the. yielding contacts 2 that when cars are brought together, the yielding contacts 2 will engage before the fixed contacts engage and'in uncoupling, the fixed contacts will separate in advance'of the separation of the yieldingcontacts. In operation, coupled position, as shown in Fig. 1, the fixed contacts will be in engagement as well as the yielding contacts 2, the yielding contacts 2 being retracted, compressing the springs 3, to permit engagement of the fixed contacts 4 and 5.

Each magnet 8 being energized by'curwhen cars are in the fullyrent flowing through the magnet from a of uncoupling, the fixed contacts 4; and 5 will first separate as shown in Fig. 2, while the yielding contacts 2 still, remain connected,

and consequently each magnet 8 is deenergized, so that the valve 19 will seat while the valve 18 will open to vent fluid from pisto chamber 10. The switch piston 11 -will t en be shifted by spring 21, so as to open the bus line circuit at the contacts 14 and 15 and it will now be evident that when the yielding contacts 2 separate, there will and consequently there-will be no arcing when the contacts separate.

B reason of the. resistance of the coil of tile magnet 8 in the fixed contact circuit,

the current flow is reduced and consequently" mg contacts of a counterpart-,diqgping, so

there be no danger due to" 9 ence of exposed live contacts when the car is in its uncoupled state.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure. by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination with an automatic electric train line coupling having an electric train line contact adapted to engage a corresponding contact of a counterpart coupswitch device operated upon the initial separating movement of connected couplings in the actcof uncoupling for opening the train line circuit of said contact.

'3. The combination with an automatic electric train line coupling having a contact connected to an electric train line and adapted to engage a corresponding contact of a counter art coupling when carsare brought toget er, of an auxiliary contact in said coupler, an electro-magnet in a circuit connected to said contact, a fluid pressure operated switch device for controlling the train line circuit, and valve means operated by said magnet for controlling the fluid pressure on-said switch device.

4. The combination with an electric train line coupling having a yielding contact connected to an electric train line and adapted to engage a corresponding contact of a counterpart coupling, of fixed contacts in said coupling adapted to separate from corresponding fixed contacts of a counterpart coupling in the act of uncoupling and in advance of the separation of t e yielding contacts, and electrically controlled means in a .circuit connected to'said fixed contacts for controlling the train line circuit connected to saidyieldi g contact.

5. The combination with an electric train line coupling having a yielding contact connected vto an electric train line and adapted to engage a corresponding contact of a counterpart coupling,.of fixed contacts in said coupling adapted to separate from corresponding tixed contacts of a counterpart coupling in the act of uncoupling and in advance of the separation of the yielding contacts, an electro-magnet in a circuit connected to said fixed contacts, a fluid pres-.

sure operated switch device for controllin the train line circuit connected-to said yiel ing contact, and valve means operated by said electro-ma net for controlling the fluid pressure on sai switch device.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CLYDE (LEARMER. 

